Single Stage Reloading...

[Corner Pocket]

I'm aware of the basic differences of how a turret press reloads versus using a progressive press. I've seen numerous Internet videos on both of these, and I recently had the opportunity to go to a friend's place to use his Dillon 450B rig to load a few hundred rounds of 38 and 357. Very nice, indeed! I'm close to buying some equipment and getting into the enjoyment of "rolling my own." Thus, my question --

On all of the turret and progressive setups that I've seen in action, the priming and powder-charging mechanisms are mounted somewhere on the press and come into play at the appropriate step in the reloading sequence. If I were to decide to "poor boy" my way into this by going with a single stage setup (at least at first), I understand that I would need to change the dies from step to step. That's easy to understand. However, it's not clear to me how you do the priming and charging when using a single step press. Any and all insights, bits of wisdom, etc., etc. are warmly welcomed. Thanks!

Corner Pocket

 

[Floppy_D]

I use a Lee Auto-Prime, which will run you about $20, and the RCBS powder measure. Here's a kit that has all you need.

 

[JDGray]

I use a Lee hand prime, came with my Anniversary kit. Simple and fast. I use a single stage press to size-deprime cases only. I'll prime up a few hundred cases at a time, and when I'm ready to load, I've got primed brass ready to go on the turret, for fast production. You can use a funnel with the powder through expander die, or drop powder into each case out of the powder measure. A turret press is the way to go, with auto indexing, and a auto powder measure.

 

[jmorris]

loading for rifle, I run every round through once to deprime/resize and reprime (or use a hand held primer tool). Then set up the seating die, throw powder charge in case, put case in press, put bullet on top and stroke the handle. If you have a separate crimp die you’ll have to run them all one last time. For pistol depending on the bullet you use you might need to bell the brass and that will add another die change (after priming). Some folks charge a bunch of cases before seating the bullet, I prefer to run one at a time.

 

[DaveInFloweryBranchGA]

Corner Pocket,

If you're going single stage, I suggest the Lee Classic Cast single stage. Why? Because it's as good as and better than most single stage presses out there at a lot lower costs. Reasons: excellent primer disposal, excellent linkage and strength, smooth operation, and has the capability to be upgraded to a Hornady LnL bushing setup. With the bushing setup, you can quickly change our your dies once you've set them up initially.

As far as priming, there's no quicker way, easier or less expensive way to prime on a single stage than using the Lee Auto prime. I owned and used two, one for each size primer, for years.

Related to powder measure, that would depend on if you're reloading rifle or pistol. If rifle and you want a good one - RCBS Uniflow, Hornady LnL, better - Redding BR3, best - something like a Harrel's. I would probably go with a Used RCBS Uniflow with both rifle and pistol cylinders that I could later put on something like the Lee Turret press with an RCBS case activated powder drop for rifle. For pistol, the Lee Pro Auto Disk would do you a good job.

I hope this helps. Just so you don't think I'm prejudiced, I've owned or own RCBS (presses, trimmers, dies, various goodies), Hornady (LnL AP progressive, powder measure, dies), Dillon (presses, dies), Lyman (casting equipment, dies), Redding (powder measures, dies) and Lee (presses, dies, powder measures assorted goodies).

Regards,

Dave

 

[Nom de Guerre]

I use a single stage Redding Big Boss 2 for reloading .308 rifle cartridges, but the method of de-priming is the same as you would find with a turret style press. The de-priming function is performed by the neck sizing die I use. Since I'm shooting with a bolt action rifle, the cases get "fireformed" to my chamber the first time they are fired. I use a neck sizing bushing die from Redding as the first step.

This die uses a neck sizing bushing that you purchase separately, and they come in various sizes. These bushings come in steel and titanium nitride versions. The latter type doesn't need lubing as opposed to the steel type, but I use lube anyway. I measure a loaded round of the type of brass and with the bullet I will be using (in my case, Federal brass and 168 gr. SMK). I then select a neck bushing .002" smaller than the diameter measured from the loaded round. Federal Gold Medal Match measures .338" at the neck, so I use a .336" bushing.

The Neck sizing die has a de-priming rod that punches out the spent primer from a fired case at the same time as it sizes the neck. The first time I used these dies, I pre-adjusted them for the components I am using, and locked the lock rings so that I only need to screw the dies in and out, and they hold my pre-set adjustments.

So here are the steps I use with my single stage press:

1. Tumble brass with some brass polish in a vibratory tumbler
2. Lube neck outside and inside with Imperial Sizing Wax
3. Screw pre adjusted neck sizing die into press
4. De-prime & neck size with the Neck sizing die

This next step only needs to be done the first time you reload the case
5. Remove factory primer crimp from inside of case with hand tool.
6. Uniform primer pocket with hand drill mounted tool
7. Chamfer inside and outside of case mouth
8. Prime cases with RCBS hand primer (the kind that uses the plastic strips)
9. Measure powder by hand with a RCBS 10-10 scale, and pour into case with funnel
10. Change die in press to pre-adjusted bullet seating die
11. Put case in case holder in press
12. Place bullet on top of case mouth
13. Smoothly pull lever to seat bullet while helping to keep the bullet straight as it enters the seating die

That's pretty much it. After several firings, I may have to use a body die to re-size the body of the case a bit. I know it's time to do this when the case expansion causes the bolt to feel a bit stiff. I also may need to trim the cases occasionally. I measure the cases each time I reload them and make the decision to trim or not.

The only difference I would experience if I were to use a turret press would be that the dies could all be screwed into the press and they could stay there, so that I would just need to rotate the top of the press to use the next die, rather than unscrewing and screwing in the next die I want to use. Since I do the above steps is stages to all of the cases, I only need to screw the dies in one time each per loading session. I would say that the time that would be saved by using a turret press is a non-issue. Perhaps it would shave 1 minute off of each reloading session. I tend to reload 50 - 100 at a time, so that extra 1 minute is not a big deal to me.

Many people believe that a turret press is not as precise as a single stage for ultimate accuracy in match grade hand loading, but I think some designs, like the T7 or the Harrell's are probably plenty sturdy, although I have no personal experience with them. If I were going to get a turret press, those two are the ones I'd look at hardest before making a decision.

In my case, I will continue to use a single stage press for accurate rifle hand loads, and eventually I may get a progressive for handgun and AR-15 re-loading.

 

[P-32]

I use a RCBS single stage press and have for over 25 years. The press has a piming device but I found it was not what I wanted to prime with many years ago. To prime I have 2 Lee auto hand primers, one set up for small primers the other set up for large. They are simple to change but at about $20.00 or less they are cheap enough to have a spare on hand. The best thing is I can feel the primer seat.

I also load 223, 308 and '06 for my service rifles. I shoot High power and believe the single stage press gives me great ammo. I do know people who load their match ammo on progressives and shoot better than I do but, oh well. I use a Lyman DPS 1200 to weigh my powder charges for me.

I also load pistol on my single stage. Some will find this painfully slow but I keep some brass ready to go already belled and primed. This way all I have to do is set up the throw, charge and seat bullets.

 

[Corner Pocket]

Gents, I sincerely appreciate each response. I'll mull these thoughts over and see what I decide to get in terms of reloading equipment and accessories. Thanks!

CP

 

[zxcvbob]

I sometimes use a single stage press for loading pistol calibers -- it's all I used for over a year. I use the press to prime the cases. My powder measure is mounted to an 1/8" thick strip of steel that is bolted to the top of the press.

I start with a loading block full of cleaned empty cases. There's more steps for rifle cartridges, but here's what I do for straight wall pistols:

1. I size and deprime all the cases and drop them in a Cool Whip container.
   
2. Then I bell the cases and prime them. As I take them off the press, I charge them with powder, then put them in the loading block.
   
3. Next I carefully examine every case in the block, using a little flashlight, to make sure it has the right amount of powder. If any are empty or don't look like they have the right amount, I dump them and recharge.
   
4. Seat and crimp the bullets and drop the finished rounds back in the Cool Whip bowl.
   
5. Inspect each round as I box them up.

This all goes a lot faster than it sounds. I once loaded a hundred 9mm cases in a half an hour on a single stage press to see if I could do it (does not include the "inspect each round" step, which I did later) but I don't like going that fast. 100 in an hour is pretty easy.

 

[jenrob]

I went from a Lee to a Redding Big Boss II. I put the Hornady LNL bushing for quick changes. It also disposes of the primers out of the bottom. For priming I use the Slide Bar Automatic Primer Feeding System on the press. Works like a turret primer system. As you size use the other hand to pull back this will pick up a primer then as you lower the ram move the primer slide bar forward now you have a size deprimed and primed case. I also have a hand primer but after getting this setup my hand primer has set.

 

[Corner Pocket]

Again I thank you good men for the insights that you've passed along to me. I've been pondering over the choices that are out there as far as reloading equipment goes. I can see where the turret or the progressive approach would save a lot of time and would crank out a lot of rounds in the least amount of time.

At the risk of someone thinking that I'm a tad looney for saying this, the single stage approach actually appeals to me more than the faster setups. I can see where it would be a lot of fun to take pains to see that each and every round is crafted just like I want it to be. I like the approach of looking into every case after charging to ensure that there are no unpleasant surprises on the firing line... I'll sleep on this and ponder it some more, but right now I feel that going the SS route would be an enjoyable undertaking...

CP

 

[Nom de Guerre]

CP,

Not loony at all. I enjoy crafting precision rounds for my bolt gun a lot. It's not always about quantity. Even if I get a progressive press down the line for bulk production for certain firearms, the SS will be what I turn to for my bolt guns.

The advantages have been mentioned, but again, learning on a SS has definite advantages, and you will always find a SS useful, even if you get a turret or progressive some day. For match grade or bench rest precision loads, most tend to agree that a SS is the way to go. Finally, SS stage presses tend to be priced lower than progressives due to the simplicity of design.

You can't go wrong, and it's a ton of fun. In fact, I'm signing off to go make up some rounds to shoot tomorrow morning.

 

[cornman]

"If you're going single stage, I suggest the Lee Classic Cast single stage."

Does'nt the aniversary kit have just that?

 

[TexasShooter59]

The "50th anniversary" and the "anniversary" both have the Breech Lock Challenger Press in them.

http://www.leeprecision.com/cgi/catalog/browse.cgi?1201059461.189=/html/catalog/rlpress1.html#breech

The links to both kits are on the page.

 

[cornman]

What is the difference in a breech lock and a single stage?

 

[jenrob]

cornman
What is the difference in a breech lock and a single stage?

The breech lock is a single stage.

Corner Pocket
At the risk of someone thinking that I'm a tad looney for saying this, the single stage approach actually appeals to me more than the faster setups. I can see where it would be a lot of fun to take pains to see that each and every round is crafted just like I want it to be. I like the approach of looking into every case after charging to ensure that there are no unpleasant surprises on the firing line... I'll sleep on this and ponder it some more, but right now I feel that going the SS route would be an enjoyable undertaking...

Heck I don't think your loony either I have a progresive and will still go out and sit down for 40min-hr and SS 50rounds of pistol just to do so reloading. just something I enjoy doing